PERCEPTION OF NIGERIAN WOMEN TOWARDS CAESEREAN SECTION: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN AKWA LBOM STATE, NIGERIA.

The main purpose of this study was to explore the perception of reproductive age women in Akwa lbom State towards caesarean section. The research methods included structured face-to-face interviews and focus group discussion. Two sites in Akwa lbom State-Etinan and Oruk Anam were used for the study. Thirty women of childbearing age were interviewed. Focus group discussions were held with five mothers-in-law of childbearing ages. The findings of the study indicate that caesarean section appeared to have various meanings for the respondents and that the procedure was not widely accepted in the communities. In addition, majority of the women that participated in the study had limited exposure to information, resulting in high level of ignorance, thus endangering their lives and those of the unborn babies. It was therefore recommended that provision of information during child birth is paramount to a satisfying birth experience. Furthermore, women should receive sufficient psychological and emotional support and encouragement from their husbands.